Bert Trautmann Testimonial Benefit Manchester City 1964 Signed

Description

DATE 15/04/64

Bert Trautmann Testimonial match football programme.

An International X1 v Manchester City + Manchester United Combined team.

Football Benefit game 1964 Autographed on the front cover by Bert.

THEY SAY ALL GOALKEEPERS ARE CRAZY,AND THIS MAN SUMMED IT UP PERFECTLY

He fought for the Germans as a paratrooper during the war. After winning five medals, including the Iron Cross, he was eventually captured. From his platoon of 1,000, he was one of only 900 to survive.

INSTEAD OF RETURNING ON HIS RELEASE IN 1948,HE WORKED THE FARM FIELDS IN LANCASHIRE,AND PLAYED LOCAL FOOTBALL IN HIS SPARE TIME

IN 1949 IT CAUSED A NATIONAL OUTCRY WHEN HE SIGNED FOR CITY,WITH DEMONSTRATIONS EVERYWHERE,ONE OF WHICH 20,000 PEOPLE ATTENDED

SOMEHOW HE IGNORED ALL THE ABUSE,AND BEING A GOALIE OF COURSE HE WAS VERY CLOSE TO THE FANS.BUT HE GOT ON WITH PERFORMING EVERY WEEK,AND GRADUALLY THE FANS WARMED TO HIM

THE TURNING POINT CAME IN THE 1956 FA CUP FINAL,WHEN HE REFUSED TO GO OFF THE FIELD AND PLAYED ON WITH A BROKEN NECK

HE THEN BECAME A NATIONAL HERO,AND WON THE FOOTBALLER OF THE YEAR.

Condition

V Good,vlcr,tc,slrs,

Click Abbreviations Key